SOURCE: Ausaf, Ummat, Daily Pak, Nawa-i-Waqt, Urdu Point, Daily Jinnah, Awami Awaz, Daily Dharti, Jasarat, Kawish, Daily Intekhab, Daily Times, Jang, Ibrat, Khabrain, Roznama Dunya, Hizb Media, Al Qalam Weekly, Baad-e-Shimal, Bang-e-Sahar, Sindh Express, Pk Voices.
CHINA
- PM Nawaz Sharif has chaired a high level meeting to review the progress of CPEC, which will help to bring the Baloch people into national mainstream with better road and rail connectivity to Balochistan. Because of the CPEC, the international community’s interest in Pakistan will increase and Pakistan will get to improve its image and standing globally. Pakistan’s rival nations especially India are creating spending billions of dollars to derail the CEPC and to pit the international community against Pakistan. India is using some Baloch rebels in its campaign against the CPEC. This is the only reason that initially some people in Khyber Pakhtunkhwah and Balochistan had expressed reservations about the CPEC. (Khabrain Edit)
UNITED STATES
- Prime Minister Sharif spoke to US President elect Donald Trump on phone. Indian PM Modi would be smouldering over the call and its outcome. Pakistan is looking forward for good relations with the US; if Trump is ready to mediate on the Kashmir issue, it would be in the interest of the entire region. (Daily Pak Edit, Nawa-i-Waqt Edit)
- Spokesperson for Foreign Office, Nafees Zakariya has termed the phone call of Prime Minister Nawaz Shareef to US President –elect Trump as a courtesy call. He welcomed the offer of Trump to play role in bringing about peace in Kashmir. OIC has recommended sending of a fact finding mission to Kashmir. Pakistan too has requested the UNHRC to send its High Commissioner to Kashmir. India is resisting these demands. Pakistan wants friendly relations with all neighbours. (Jinnah)
- Columnist Asif Jelani in his article ‘telephonic conversation between Trump and Nawaz Sharif’, says many in Pakistan including Nawaz Sharif may have high hopes from Trump vis-à-vis Pakistan but the picture will become clear only after Trump is sworn in as the US President on 12 January. It also remains to be seen as to how Trump implements what he said about consolidating and strengthening ties with India, what strategies he works out in the pursuit of US expectations from India and also with regards to the US plans against Pakistan. It also remains to be seen as to how much Trump helps and co-operates with India with regards to latter’s plans against Pakistan. (Kawish)
- Madad Ali Sindhi’s article titled ‘Pakistan should gear up for hovering threats’ refers to telephonic talk between Nawaz Sharif and the US President- elect Trump and Trump’s remark that would he would be glad to visit to Pakistan! Pakistan has paid a heavy price for its friendship with the US beginning with its role in Afghanistan in 1980s that had resulted in ousting of the Soviet troops from Afghanistan. This had also resulted in the arrival of gun-culture in Pakistan giving birth to militancy and fundamentalism. Hundreds have died during the intervening years and even the foreign agencies have started using fundamentalists now and causing blasts within Pakistan. Pakistan is suffering from this curse only because of Afghan wars and also because of Pakistan getting a ‘pay-back’ for its friendship with the US. But, yet the US has never looked up to Pakistan as an US ally or friend and to add to Pakistan’s discomfort, the US keeps helping and strengthening India. These are very key issues and the Pakistan leadership should make new policies and new parameters of friendship in the light of past mistakes. Two things are important for Pakistan right now; total eradication of militancy and success of CPEC. Some countries are upset because of the CPEC and are instigating unrest in Balochistan so that this project can somehow be derailed. Iran, Saudi and Afghanistan are interested to join the project. Saudi wants to have better ties with China and hence it is expected that in times to come China itself might induct Saudi in this project. China’s objectives is to boost its exports and facilitate imports through Gwadar port. If Afghanistan is keen on joining this project, then Afghanistan will have to talk to China. One of the toughest challenge for Pakistan will be security cover for CPEC. The outgoing Army Chief was well seized of this matter and was all out to protect CPEC so much so even Rangers were given free hand to establish law and order in Karachi. The new Army Chief has also said that besides improving conditions at the LOC, it is important is to check militancy. Now that this realisation has dawned, all stakeholders, civilian and army leadership should work hand-in-hand and all institutions should discharge their respective duties and function in tandem. This is the only way to see Pakistan prosperous, secure and safe. (Awami Awaz)
AFGHANISTAN
- Afghan President has expressed willingness to join CPEC as China has decided to extend the project to end the influence of the US and India. (Ummat)
INDIA
- The founder of Khalistan Movement, and Chairman of World Muslim-Sikh Federation, Sardar Manmohan Singh Khalsa says Modi’s foolishness will help set up Khalistan within India. Addressing an emergency press conference on reaching Lahore from UK, he said he prayed that Narendra Modi becomes India’s PM even in the next election. The referendum to be held in 2020 will make accomplishment of Khalistan a possibility. He stressed that their struggle will continue till they free Khalistan. (Jang)
- Federal Commerce Minister, Khurram Dastagir told the Senate’s standing committee for textiles that there is no ban import of cotton from India. He said that despite tension on the LoC, there is no restriction on business with India. (Urdupoint)
- Columnist Arif Bahar says protests that have erupted in India in and outside Parliament against the demonetisation of high value currency notes is a sign of Indian democracy. This is the way a democracy should function; Pakistani democracy has ‘punctures’ because of the Oath of Democracy (Misaq-e-Jamhuriyat) was signed between PPP and PML-N. (Jasarat)
- At the 9th annual meeting of the Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA), a resolution was adopted calling for resolution of Kashmir as per UN Resolution. The declaration was signed jointly by Afghanistan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, South Korea, Indonesia, Iran Iraq, Jordon, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Pakistan, Palestine, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Turkey, UAE and Vietnam. Member countries expressed concern over increasing tension in the region and problems women and children are facing due to terrorism. The declaration urged that APA and other stake-holders to support peace process in Afghanistan. (Urdupoint)
- Addressing a press conference, Jamaat-e-Islami, Secretary General, Liaqat Baloch, said that Indian forces are helpless against Kashmiris’ firm determination. Martyrdom of Burhan Wani has given new willpower to Kashmiris. Indian PM, Modi is war crazy. (Urdupoint)
- Zia Shahid has opposed the participation of Pakistan Foreign Advisor Sartaj Aziz in the Heart of Asia Conference in India. Sartaj should not attend the conference as India has fired on Pakistani ambulance, women and children. If India does not want to hold talks with Pakistan, Pakistan should not hold talk with India. (Khabrain)
- Speaking at Qaumi Majlis-e-Mushawarat conference, JI Chief Siraj-ul-Haq, JuD Chief Prof Hafiz Saeed and other leaders of 31 parties including minority community parties said trade should be stopped with India and freedom movement of Kashmiris should be termed as constitutional struggle. PM’s Advisor on foreign affairs Sartaj Aziz shouldn’t go to attend ‘Heart of Asia’ conference. Government should call an APC to clarify Kashmir policy. Government and opposition should stand firmly that Kashmir is the jugular vein of Pakistan. The conference has set up an 11- member Rabata committee was formulated to raise the Kashmir issue. There would be such conferences in the capital and other cities on 14 Dec. Soon a Karachi to Islamabad long march will be organized to highlight Kashmir issue. ‘Roznama Dunya’ claims that a video depicting India’s barbarism was also shown which welled up eyes of the participants. It also states that there were representative of. (Jasarat-Roznama Dunya)
- An 11-member Rabata Committee was constituted at Jammu-Kashmir’s national consultation meeting. JuD chief Hafiz Saeed made the announcement. The members are Maulana Fazlur Rahman Khalil, Ejazul Haq Peer, Sayed Haroon Geelani, Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan, Mohd Ali Durrani, Ajmal Khan Wazir, Maulana Abdul Aziz Alwi, Abdur Rashid Turabi, Abdullah Gul, Qari Yaqoob and Sayed Yusuf Shah. The announced Rabata Committee. (Urdupoint)
- Former AJK Prime Minister Barrister Sultan Mehmood Chaudhary, who is also Kashmir PTI President, has suggested that Kashmiri people on both sides of the Line of Control should come out on 27th October 2017 and break the Line, as was done by Germans, who had pulled down the Berlin Wall. Addressing a function of the Central Bar Council, he recalled that Soviet Union and the US looked on helplessly when people of Germany came out in numbers and ended the German divide. Similarly, we also should come out in large numbers and demolish Line of Control and unite Kashmir for ever. (Daily Dharti)
ARMY/SECURITY FORCES
- Some analysts say outgoing COAS General Raheel Sharif took some wrong decisions. Such decisions range from a safety net to former president General Pervez Musharraf, pushing out Afghan Taliban, and stepped up Ops in FATA, to softness in Karachi operation and making pro-Pakistan and Islamic forces an enemy of Pakistan. These critics should have spoken when he was in power as his intentions cannot be suspected. General Sharif is an honest and patriotic general and had revived traditions of the Army to celebrate festivals with troops on the fronts. It was Raheel Sharif who refused to come under pressure of the US and shifted Pakistan’s face towards Turkey, China and Russia. (Ummat)
TERRORISM & EXTREMISM
- JeM organized a massive congregation in memory of Mujahid ‘Bakhsish Shahid’. Chief Guest was Mufti Abdul Rauf, brother of Maulana Masood Azhar and Hazrat Maulana Ammar. Addressing the congregation Mufti Rauf said that this gathering would give birth to people like mujahid Bakshish who will fall as a curse upon chest of Modi, Trump and their troops. A two years old boy spoke for two/three minutes about mujahideen languishing in jails which moved the 10,000 strong audience to cry loudly. (Al Qalam Weekly, 2 – 8 December)
SINDH/BALOCHISTAN/KP/PUNJAB
- Awami Action Committee’s former Chairman Maulana Sultan Raees said that Gilgit-Baltistan is not getting anything in the CPEC and the government is fooling the people in this regard. (Daily K2)
- The Sindh and Punjab Chief Ministers met in Lahore and agreed on improving ties between two provinces. Punjab Chief minister commented that personal egos have done enough of harm to the nation. They should now work keeping aside all differences for the larger good of the country. (Sindh Express)
- After wall-chalking by MQM-Pakistan and London against each other in various parts of Karachi, the threat of major clash between the party members has increased. (Jang)
- President of FATA Political Alliance, Nisar Mohmand told a press conference at Peshawar that bill regarding FATA presented in the National Assembly should be passed as early as possible. FATA should be merged with KP so that FATA gets representation at provincial and National assemblies. (Urdupoint)
POLITICAL SCENE
- Census has been delayed. Besides the federal government, each provincial government should also make arrangements for enumeration work because census data is useful for undertaking development programmes in the provinces. Census will help the Sindh in particular and will also help ascertain the increase in population since 1998. (Sindh Express Edit)
- Aizaj Mungi’s article titled ‘enumeration and sense of lack of safety’ notes that the Supreme Court is angry that census has not taken place since 1998. In fact the government of the day had plans to do enumeration in March this year but failed because the Army was busy with its operations. The federal government deferred enumeration citing non -availability of army personnel to escort the census staff. But, this time the Supreme Court has strictly warned the federal government to undertake enumeration works in March next year but this does not seem to be happening. (Sindh Express)
POK/G-B NEWS
- PM Nawaz Sharif as approved Rs 10 crores 51 lakh rupees aid for the people affected on the LoC. (Daily Dharti)
- A consultative meeting was held at a local hotel about ‘Movement for independence of Kashmir’ under the auspices of Great Kashmir. Speaking on the occasion, Chief of Jamaat Islami Siraj-ul-Haq, Ejaz-ul-Haq of PML (Zia), Hafiz Saeed, Chief of Jamaat-ud-Dawah, Yusuf Naseem of Hurriyat Conference, Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman, Khalil of Ansar ul Ummah, Abdul Aziz Alvi, Chairman of Independence Movement Jammu and Kashmir and others demanded that the federal government should formulate a clear policy for the solution of Kashmir problem. A communiqué issued by the meeting also demanded that the federal government should give economic independence to Azad Kashmir government. (Daily Dharti)